2014 NFL Draft Mock Draft 3.0: Post Combine Edition

The Combine is over and prospects will begin to almost magically rise up mock drafts. Most teams and scouts don’t really care about Combine numbers like most people tend to think, but there is always a prospect or two that get taken much earlier than anticipated due to a top notch Combine performance.

As I have stated before I don’t do trades in my mocks because they are even less predictable then the actual player selections. St. Louis’ second overall pick in my mind is 80 percent likely to be moved come draft day. If Houston takes a quarterback look for someone to trade into two for Clowney. If Houston takes Clowney a team may hop Jacksonville into two to have their choice of quarterback.

Leave feedback on what you think about your favorite teams picks. Tell me how much I know nothing about your favorite team, because I like being told I’m wrong.

* Denotes playoff team

-> Denotes trades that have already occurred

Round 1

1. Houston (2-14): Blake Bortles, QB, UCF – The reason Bortles gets the leap past Bridgewater is because he competed at the Combine. Bortles isn’t assuming that he’s a top talent so he is taking to the field. Teams will like Bortles for his hard working personality. He is being compared to Big Ben which also helps.

Credit to bigstory.ap.org

2. St. Louis (from Washington) (3-13): Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson – Watkins showed his athleticism at the Combine. He excelled in every test and looked fluid through the on filed drills. He is easily the top receiver in the class. Sam Bradford would be thrilled to finally have a number one target.

3. Jacksonville (4-12): Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville – Jacksonville needs a legitimate quarterback to be competitive. They have formed rosters with talent on them, but incompetent quarterbacks have kept them from being competitive. Bridgewater is the most pro ready quarterback in this class, and that is exactly what the Jaguars need.

4. Cleveland (4-12): Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M – Cleveland is another team that needs a competent quarterback to be competitive. Manziel may not be as NFL ready as Bridgewater, but his athleticism will bail him out. Cleveland has some pretty good receiving options for a rookie quarterback to walk into.

5. Oakland (4-12): Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina – Clowney set some crazy goals for the Combine and he pretty much achieved them. Clowney could easily be gone by this point, but if he isn’t the Raiders will snatch him up. They would rather have a top tier defensive end in Clowney than a second tier quarterback.

6. Atlanta (4-12): Greg Robinson. OT, Auburn – Atlanta will be a major player come draft day to try and move up to select Clowney, but in this case they end up with the top tackle. They won’t complain about the athleticism and upside to Robinson if they stay put.

7. Tampa Bay (4-12): Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo – Mack in my opinion is the can’t miss prospect of this draft. Some will question his level of competition, but his Combine numbers and Ohio State film will eliminate those concerns.

8. Minnesota (5-10-1): Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State – Gilbert may be the first shutdown corner selected in the first round in years. A guy that is his size and plays as physical as he does should not run a 4.37 forty. Here’s his game against Missouri in the Cotton Bowl for you.

9. Buffalo (6-10): C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama – This pick is based off of Kiko Alonso being moved outside. Regardless of that news Mosley is a really good player. Due to being a product of Alabama he doesn’t have a high ceiling, but he is extremely pro ready. He will be a 100 plus tackle linebacker a year.

10. Detroit (7-9): Eric Ebron, TE, UNC – Oh no, Ebron didn’t run as fast as Vernon Davis did…. People that think that will lower his stock for NFL teams are nuts. Ebron runs good routes and has a fantastic catch radius. Everyone thinks Detroit needs a receiver to compliment Megatron. Well that’s what Ebron is. Line him up all over the field and let him go to town.

11. Tennessee (7-9): Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA – The Titans will be switching to a 3-4 defense this season. So why not go out and get a great 3-4 pass rushing linebacker. Barr will need time to work on his coverage and run support skills, but initially he can be a 3rd down pass rusher.

12. New York Giants (7-9): Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M – The Giants will not be disappointed to get a top tier talent in Matthews. The most technically sound tackle in this class will bring some stability to the Giants line and keep Eli Manning on his feet.

13. St. Louis (7-9): Ha’Sean “Haha” Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama – Some scouts love Clinton-Dix. I just really like him. He can cover, he can hit, and best of all he is reliable. St. Louis isn’t necessarily in need of a safety, but it’s hard to pass up one as talented as Clinton-Dix.

14. Chicago (8-8): Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh – Chicago fans may blast this pick because it’s not Hageman or Jernigan, but Donald is much more proven at this point. Donald is checking off every box as he goes. He had a fantastic 2013 season, He won four awards (Bednarik, Nagurski, Lombardi, and Outland), was a stud at the Senior Bowl, and showed off some freak athleticism at the Combine. I’m on the Aaron Donald bandwagon. Sorry.

15. Pittsburgh (8-8): Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M – Remember the days of Plaxico Burress in Pittsburgh? It’s about time for a physically imposing receiver to end up back in Pittsburgh with Big Ben. Evans ran a great forty at the Combine (4.53). His massive frame will allow him to handle corners with ease.

16. Dallas (8-8): Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville – Pryor is Mike Mayock’s top rated safety. I like Clinton-Dix’s coverage ability better, but Pryor is much more dominant in the run game. Dallas has been slotting safeties year after year. It’s time they got a keeper.

17. Baltimore (8-8): Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan – After his Combine performance Lewan may be in consideration to be selected over Jake Matthews. Baltimore will most likely let Michael Oher go and may even lose Eugene Monroe. Their line couldn’t get much going last season, but Lewan would be a great step.

Credit to Star Tribune/ Ron Jenkins

18. New York Jets (8-8): Jace Amaro, TE, Texas A&M – Amaro brings a unique combination of size and athleticism to the table. He’s 6’5”, ran a 4.74 forty, and put up twenty-eight reps on the bench. You can line him up anywhere on the field to create mismatches against linebackers, corners, and safeties. Geno Smith will really like that.

19. Miami (8-8): Zach Martin, OT, Notre Dame – The Dolphins don’t have an offensive line, unless Pouncey is just suspended. Miami will need to add some talent for their line through free agency as well. Martin can play from tackle to tackle making him a versatile asset. He is another player that is just checking off the boxes as he goes.

20. Arizona (10-6): Stephon Tuitt, DE/DT, Notre Dame – Dockett and Campbell aren’t getting any younger, or better either. Tuitt is a versatile player that can play anywhere on a 3-4 front. Arizona needs pass rushers, some will say in the form of a linebacker, but I don’t like any of the pass rushing linebackers at this point. No need to reach.

21. Green Bay* (8-7-1): Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Washington – The Packers have always benefited from a good tight end. Seferian-Jenkins is a complete tight end that is a better pass catcher than blocker. If he refines his blocking technique his size would allow him to be one of the best blockers in the NFL.

22. Philadelphia* (10-6): Dee Ford, DE, Auburn – The best thing about Ford is his motor never stops. He has shown his value at the biggest stage (National Championship) and was a monster at the Senior Bowl. Chip Kelly is looking for a speed pass rusher.

23. Kansas City* (11-5): Marquise Lee, WR, USC – Kansas City doesn’t need a receiver, but Lee’s value is too good to pass up here. Alex Smith would love another reliable target to compliment to Bowe. Lee reminds me of quicker Jeremy Maclin, which if I do recall Andy Reid drafted in Philadelphia.

24. Cincinnati* (11-5): Dareueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State – Dennard proved he has the speed to keep up at the next level in Indianapolis. He is a tough corner that likes to play nasty. That’s just up the Bengals alley. Two very good corners in Cincinnati will help average safety play.

25. San Diego* (9-7): Jason Verrett, CB, TCU – The Chargers have been without a true number one corner for a while. Verrett could change that. Verrett is small (5’9”), but plays much bigger. He had a great Combine, and will remind scouts of Brent Grimes in Miami.

26. Cleveland (from Indianapolis*) (11-5): Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State – Cooks made himself a lot of money at the Combine by running a blazing 4.33 forty. Many forget he won the 2013 Biletnikoff award for the best receiver in the nation. Browns fans will say they have a Cooks in Benjamin, but Cooks has the rest of the skills besides the speed to be a full time receiver.

27. New Orleans* (11-5): Trent Murphy, DE/OLB, Stanford – Murphy didn’t do anything spectacular at the Combine, but he is a good run stuffer and a very good pass rusher. He reminds me of Ryan Kerrigan, and can play standing up or hand in the dirt.

28. Carolina* (12-4): Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State – Cam Newton would love to have a big bodied receiver to have a jump ball option. Steve Smith is getting older, but can still get the job done. Benjamin provides a player that knows how to use his size to his advantage to cause mismatches.

Credit to buckeyextra.dispatch.com

29. New England* (12-4): Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State – Aquib Talib may walk from New England for free agency this offseason, so they will need to find a replacement. Roby would be the third best corner for his on field play, but his arrest drops him. He sometimes uses his athleticism to make plays, but makes mistakes because of relying on his athletic ability over technique sometimes. If he can get on the right track he could be a great player.

30. San Francisco* (12-4): Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame – Nix could take this defensive front seven to a whole new level with his size and ability. Bumping Dorsey outside to rotate with Ray McDonald would also give this front some fresh legs. Nix could be the answer to help stop Beast Mode next season.

31. Denver* (13-3): Xavier Su’a-Filo, OT/OG, UCLA – The Seahawks front four went to town on the Broncos line in the Super Bowl. Su’a-Filo is a nasty blocker that will protect Payton Manning with his life. He’s the best pass blocking guard in this class thanks to his time at tackle, and we all know the Broncos like to pass the ball.

32. Seattle* (13-3): Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri – There may be some shake up on the Seahawks front four, but even if there isn’t Ealy is great value here. Elay isn’t as fast as former Missouri Tiger Aldon Smith, but he is just as athletic. He is most suited as a heavier right end.